Liquid pressure opened valve for a spray nozzle



Jan. 5, 1965 v. s. BURAAS 3,164,326

LIQUID PRESSURE OPENED VALVE FOR A SPRAY NOZZLE Filed Feb. 27, 1.963 I 151g 2 F E 1 /2 f 50 2a :2 V 56 40 K i INVENTOR. VNCENT S. BURAAS United States Patent 3,164,326 LIQUID PRESSURE OPENED VALVE FOR A SPRAY NOZZLE Vincent S. Buraas, Box 176, Northwood, N. Dark. Filed Feb. 27, 1963, Ser. No. 261,315 4 Clmhns. (Cl. 239-453) This invention relates generally to spray nozzles, and pertains more particularly to a spray nozzle for agricultural applications, the invention finding especial utility in the conducting of aerial spraying operations for insect and weed control purposes.

One object of the invention is to provide a spray nozzle that will produce a spray having a substantially uniform droplet size, even though the output or discharge is varied over relatively wide ranges. Actually, the droplet size is a trifle larger when the nozzle is subjected to a'large increase in pressure, but for all intents and purposes the droplet size can be said to be uniform.

Another object of the invention is to provide a spray nozzle having a self-cleaning action, thereby minimizing downtime, which is particularly important when conducting aerial spraying operations.

A further object of the invention is to provide a spray nozzle that will be immediately self-closing when the liquid pressure is removed, thereby producing virtually a no-drip or no-leak type of nozzle.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a spray nozzle having extremely facile adjustment as to its maximum amount of opening and hence the droplet size for a given setting. More specifically, the invention has for an aim the provision of a spray nozzle that can be used along with other nozzles of a similar construction which are connected to a common manifold and which will all pop open at the same time to a predetermined extent when a sufiicient pressure is applied to the bank or group of such nozzles. It will be appreciated that this is of particular advantage when such a bank of nozzles is carried on an airplane for aerial spraying.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a spray nozzle in which the seal can readily be replaced when necessary to do so.

Another object of the invention is to provide a spray nozzle that can be fabricated at a relatively low cost and which does not require close manufacturing clearances for its operation.

Still another feature of the invention is to provide means for determining the conical spray pattern, the invention envisaging an easily adjustable hood that can be selectively positioned relative to the outlet so that the droplets impinge thereon and are deflected into the desired conical configuration.

These and other objects and advantages of my invention will more fully appear from the following description, made in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein like reference characters refer to the same or similar parts throughout the several views and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a preferred form of the invention, a portion of the body or housing being broken away in order to show to better advantage the internal construction of the spray nozzle;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken in the direction of line 2-2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view of the means for resiliently biasing the valve head into closed position;

FIGURE 4 is a top plan view corresponding to FIGURE 3 but with the coil spring appearing in FIGURES 1 and 3 removed, and

FIGURE 5 is a side elevational view of the valve head, the two parts constituting same being shown in an eX- ploded or separated relationship.

Referring now in detail to FIGURE 1, it will be perceived that the spray nozzle there shown comprises a generally cylindrical housing or body 10 having a longitudinal passage 12 extending therethrough. At one end of the passage 12 is an inlet 14 and external threads 16 permit this end to be connected to a supply of liquid under pressure. At the other end of the passage 12 is an outlet 18 having an annular beveled valve seat labeled 20. External threads 22 adjacent the outlet end 18 permit the attachment of an internally threaded cylindrical hood 24 which by reason of the threaded engagement thereof with the outlet end 18 allows the hood to be axially positioned relative to said end 18 for a purpose hereinafter made manitest. It will be discerned that internal taper at 26.

Next to be referred to is a stud member 28 having a threaded portion 30 and a pair of flats at 32 so that the stud member 28 can be manually held from rotation. The

purpose of the stud member 28 is to carry a valve head identified by the reference numeral 34, the valve head being composed of a nut member 36 having a threaded aperture 38 and an annular seal 40 of plastic or elastomeric material which has an aperture 42 extending, there through. The separability of the parts 36, 40 can best be seen from FIGURE 5.

From FIGURES 3 and 4, as well as FIGURE 1, it will be observed that the threaded stud member 28 is attached to a U-shaped resilient wire member 44, the bight portion 46 of the U-shaped member 44 being welded or brazed at 48 to the adjacent end of the stud member 28. The U-shaped member 44 additionally includes a pair of parallel leg portions 59 having outturned extremities or hooks 52.

The outturned extremities or hooks 52 of the U-shaped member 44 retain one end of a coil spring 54 in an encircling relationship with the parallel leg portions 50 of the U-shaped member 44. The other end of the coil spring 54 is retained in place by means of a transverse pin 56 having its opposite ends anchored in the body 10 and extending transversely across the passage 12 between the leg portions 50, as can be understood from FIGURES 1 and 2. The spring 54 is shown in an uncompressed or free condition in FIGURE 3.

While the mode of assembling my spray nozzle should be readily apparent from the information that has been given, it can be pointed out that the valve head 34 is initially placed on the threaded stud 28, the seal 40 being slipped on first and then the nut member 36 which is knurled to facilitate moving same to the proper longitudinal position.

The U-shaped wire member lis then inserted through the outlet 18 so as to have the parallel leg portions 51 straddle the transverse pin 56. This is done Without the coil spring 54 in an encircling relationship. Due to the resiliency of the U-shaped member 44, the outturned ends 52 can be flexed toward each other with an appropriate implement inserted into the inlet 14. With the outturned ends 52 moved closer together, the coil spring 54 can be inserted through the inlet 14 and placed in the desired encircling relationship, the outturned ends 52 then being released so that they prevent the coil spring from moving longitudinally outwardly through the inlet 14. The other end of the coil spring 54, of course, is restrained by the transverse pin 56. In this Way, the spring 54 is compressed from the length appearing in FIGURE 3 to that shown in FIGURE 1.

It has already been pointed out that the exemplary spray nozzle will find particular utility in conducting aerial spraying operations. Accordingly, when the inlet 14 is attached to a manifold on an airplane, it being contemplated that a bank of spray nozzles be utilized, through the agency of the threads 16, then when the control valve leading to the manifold is opened, liquid {Patented Jan. 5, 1965;

the hood 24 has a slight under pressure is' permitted to enter the body 1t! via the inlet 14. The pressure exerted by the liquid within the passage 12 acts against the seal 40 to overcome the bias of the coil spring 54. In this regard, it will be appreciated that the coil spring bears at one end against the transverse pin 56 which is fixedly disposed and therefore transmits a closing force to the U-shaped member 44 via its outturned ends 52,. The U-shaped member 44 being'attached at its bight portion 56 to the threaded stud member 28 causes the threaded stud member to be normally moved to the left as viewed in FIGURE 1. Inasmuch as the nut member 36 of the valve head 34 is threadedly carried on the stud member 28, the valve head 34 moves in unison with the stud member 28 and its seal 40 is thereby urged against the valve seat 2% when an insufficient pressure is applied to the seal 40. However, when the pressure is increased enough, then this biasing action is overcome and the valve head 34 moves to the right as viewed in FIGURE 1 to permit the liquid to escape between the seal 40 and the seat 26.

This spray, which is in the form of a multiplicity of droplets, has a conical pattern and when the hood 24 is axially positioned to the proper location, the spray configuration will, therefore, be determined by the particular axial position of the hood 24. Thus, if the hood 24 is moved an appreciable amount to the left, there will be little may be made in the form, details, arrangements and proportions of the parts without departing from the scope of my invention as set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A spray nozzle comprising:

(a) a generally cylindrical body provided with a longitudinal passage extending therethrough having an inlet at one end adapted to be connected to a supply of liquid under pressure and an outlet at the other end forming an annular valve seat;

(b) a relatively short threaded stud member centrally disposed Within said outlet end;

(0) valve head means threadedly carried on said stud for axial adjustment therealong;

(d) a U-shaped member having a generally parallel leg and a connecting bight portion, said bight portion being secured to one end of said stud;

(e) a coil spring encircling said legs;

(f) a transverse member having its ends secured to said body and extending across said passage between said legs adjacent said bight portion so that one end of said spring is restrained thereby, and

(g) means on said legs in a spaced relation with respect to said transverse member for restraining the other end of said spring,

(1'1) whereby said spring acts in a direction to normally cause said valve head means to engage said valve seat and to yield under sufilcient liquid pressure to permit said valve head means to be forced away from said seat to produce a conical spray pattern.

2. A spray nozzle in accordance with claim 1 in which said valve head means includes:

(a) a nut member threadedly encircling said stud member, and

(b) an annular seal between said nut member and said valve seat.

3. A spray nozzle in accordance with claim 2 including:

(a) a cylindrical hood member threadedly carried on said body at said outlet end for impingement thereagainst by said spray.

4. A spray nozzle in accordance with claim 1 said last-mentioned means includes:

(a) integral outturned ends on said legs forming hooks for engaging said other end of the spring.

in which References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 943,780 Hughes Dec. 21, 1909 2,854,021 Baldwin et al. Sept. 30, 1958 2,990,798 Pribyl July 4, 1961 FOREIGN PATENTS 576,260 France Aug. 13, 1924 

1. A SPRAY NOZZLE COMPRISING: (A) A GENERALLY CYLINDRICAL BODY PROVIDED WITH A LONGITUDINAL PASSAGE EXTENDING THERETHROUGH HAVING AN INLET AT ONE END ADAPTED TO BE CONNECTED TO A SUPPLY OF LIQUID UNDER PRESSURE AND AN OUTLET AT THE OTHER END FORMING AN ANNULAR VALVE SEAT; (B) A RELATIVELY SHORT THREADED STUD MEMBER CENTRALLY DISPOSED WITHIN SAID OUTLET END; (C) VALVE HEAD MEANS THREADEDLY CARRIED ON SAID STUD FOR AXIAL ADJUSTMENT THEREALONG; (D) A U-SHAPED MEMBER HAVING A GENERALLY PARALLEL LEG AND A CONNECTING BIGHT PORTION, SAID BIGHT PORTION BEING SECURED TO ONE END OF SAID STUD; (E) A COIL SPRING ENCIRCLING SAID LEGS; (F) A TRANSVERSE MEMBER HAVING ITS ENDS SECURED TO SAID BODY AND EXTENDING ACROSS SAID PASSAGE BETWEEN SAID LEGS ADJACENT SAID BIGHT PORTION SO THAT ONE END OF SAID SPRING IS RESTRAINED THEREBY, AND (G) MEANS ON SAID LEGS IN A SPACED RELATION WITH RESPECT TO SAID TRANSVERSE MEMBER FOR RESTRAINING THE OTHER END OF SAID SPRING, (H) WHEREBY SAID SPRING ACTS IN A DIRECTION TO NORMALLY CAUSE SAID VALVE HEAD MEANS TO ENGAGE SAID VALVE SEAT AND TO YIELD UNDER SUFFICIENT LIQUID PRESSURE TO PERMIT SAID VALVE HEAD MEANS TO BE FORCED AWAY FROM SAID SEAT TO PRODUCE A CONICAL SPRAY PATTERN. 